Biketoberfest crashes limited to 1 death in Daytona Beach

FAST FACTS

DAYTONA BEACH -- Biketoberfest 2010 roared out of Volusia County with one fatality -- that of a pregnant 21-year-old Port Orange woman Friday night.

Though tragic, the carnage was greatest in 2000 when six Biketoberfest-related fatalities occurred, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. And that was three times the number of deaths in 1999.

The four-day rally, which ended Sunday, was relatively quiet -- figuratively and literally -- in terms of the number of bikers and the noise. While it's too early to tell the economic stimulus from the fall rally, in its 18th year, especially with the entrenched recession, though the usual hot spots were active: Main Street in Daytona Beach, Rossmyer's Harley dealership off Interstate 95 in Ormond Beach and Pub 44 on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach.

The fall biker event traditionally draws 125,000 bikers while the February Bike Week, which is actually 10 days, draws upwards of half a million. Four fatalities resulted from Bike Week 2010.

Biketoberfest's lone fatality this time around was particularly tragic in that Gace Scullion, a week shy of her 22nd birthday and three to four weeks pregnant, was killed Friday night when the bike she was on was among three motorcycles struck by a Jeep Cherokee that made a left turn in front of them, Daytona Beach police said.

Joshua Baldes, 27, was charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash with death and leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury. According to police reports, Baldes was westbound on George W. Engram Boulevard at 10 p.m., when he suddenly veered left into the direct path of the bikes. He took off from the scene, but was captured a block away, police said.